Karim Benzema has accused Didier Deschamps of bowing to pressure from a “racist part of France” after not selecting him for his country’s 23-man squad for Euro 2016.
Benzema was suspended by the French Football Federation in December, after he was charged with conspiracy to blackmail as part of a legal investigation into an alleged attempt by one of his friends, to extort money from international teammate Mathieu Valbuena.
The two-time Champions League winner faces up to five years in jail over accusations that he encouraged Valbuena, the Lyon midfielder, to pay the blackmailers.
However the Real Madrid forward, 28, has echoed comments made by former France international Eric Cantona last week suggesting that both he and Hatem Ben Arfa had been left out of the squad due to their ethnicity.
Benzema has told Spanish daily Marca that Deschamps “bowed to pressure from a racist French party” in electing not to select him, referencing the recent electoral success of France’s far-right National Front.
“He has bowed to the pressure of a racist part of France,” Benzema told Marca . “He has to know that in France the extremist party reached the second round in the last two elections.
“I do not know, therefore, whether it is a decision only for Didier because I’ve gotten along with him, with the president (of the French Football Federation, Noel Le Graet) and everyone.”
Benzema last weekend helped Real Madrid secure their 11th European Cup, the culmination of a club campaign where he scored 28 goals in 36 games for Los Merengues.
“They said I cannot be selected, fine. But on a sporting level, I don’t understand why,” added Benzema. “At the judicial level, I have not been judged. I am not guilty, so we have to wait to see what the justice says.
“I like football and to play with my team.”
Benzema has 27 goals in 81 appearances for his country and saw had been handed a Euro 2016 reprieve when legal restrictions stopping him playing on the same team as Valbuena were lifted.
Nonetheless, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, as well as other politicians, have opposed Benzema’s involvement with the national team while the sex-tape inquiry continues.
“The only person who knows what happened in this affair, who knows the truth, is Valbuena,” continued Benzema.
“He played a role, he has not told the truth. I wanted to help him, nothing more, and the whole thing blew up in my face.”
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